The architectural studio of Tomas Montis Sastre has carried out the refurbishment of the Farinera de Can Suau in Llubí, a municipality in the Balearic Islands, located almost in the center of Mallorca. In the project, two constructions prevail that have historically functioned one conditioned by the other: the Molí de Can Suau, a heritage building, and its adjoining "Farinera", a later construction dating from the year 1900.

This urban project generates a new semi-public space in the municipality. The resulting project is a new square where new vertical connections have been created on the outside to achieve maximum free space inside the Farinera.
The reform designed by the Montis Sastre Arquitectura studio eliminates the ruined connection between the mill and the Farinera, creating new urban access from Carrer Creu. In addition, a new staircase has been installed to access this square from street Recto Tomás, generating a new pedestrian traffic flow between the two streets. 

On the other hand, the new semi-public square is an outdoor space that functions as a point of union between the mill and the Farinera, thus also serving as a connection between the multi-purpose and exhibition halls that house both constructions.

In addition, the square itself operates as an exhibition space showing the different historic elements that characterized the Farinera, such as the "moles" located in the opposite party walls, or the shop window where we can see the old engine of the Farinera, next to the new access and the staircase, defined by a laminated steel element.
 

Description of project by Tomas Montis Sastre

The project to reform the Farinera de Can Suau consists of the performance of a forgotten urban corner in Llubí (Mallorca). Bounded by the rear facades of the adjoining houses, there are two buildings that have historically functioned, one conditioned by the other. It is the Molí de Can Suau, a heritage building, as well as its attached "Farinera", a later construction dating from 1900.

The proposal consists of an urban action, generating a new semi-public urban space in the municipality. The resulting project is a new plaza for Llubí where new vertical connections have been placed outside to achieve the greatest free space inside the Farinera.

The construction in a state of ruins that connected the mill with the Farinera is suppressed and a new urban access is generated from Creu street. On the other hand, a new staircase is built to access this square from Recto Tomás street. These new entrances achieve a new flow of pedestrian traffic between these streets. This semi-public square is an outdoor space that functions as a link between the mill and the Farinera. It is understood as the circulations between the multipurpose and exhibition rooms that house both buildings.

The suppression of this old connection in ruins, not only achieves a new access to this place, but also emphasizes the heritage building, the Can Suau mill, acquiring the prominence that corresponds to it.

The new exterior staircase that leads up to the multipurpose room on the first floor functions as a viewpoint of the town. An elevator is built to comply with accessibility and the roof of the Farinera has been replaced. In the area of the square, we have proceeded to landscaping, pedestrianization, as well as the implementation of a small stage for holding events.

The square also functions as an exhibition space for the different historical elements that characterized the Farinera. The "moles" are located on the opposite party walls, and a laminated steel element defines the new urban access, the staircase, and a showcase where the old Farinera engine is displayed.

This characteristic laminated steel element has the particularity of densifying itself from the inside of the square, and becoming transparent to show the construction of marés from 1900, from the street. In this way, the character of the existing construction from the outside of this area is respected and the original appearance of this area of the municipality is not distorted.

The materials in this space consist of existing ones or new ones of an industrial nature such as the use that these two constructions historically had.

The existing sandstone of the façade will be shown as the leading quality. The joinery is made of wood. The steel is also shown in the steel reinforcements of the entrances and windows that now redefine a new façade with respect to the dividing wall now exposed, having reused the previously bricked-up holes.

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Architects
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Collaborators
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Consultant.- Eduardo Ramis de Ayreflor.
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Client
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Area
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192.2 sqm.
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Dates
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2018.
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Tomás Montis Sastre (Palma de Mallorca, 1985) graduated as an architect from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de la Salle in 2010. Since 2015, he began his professional career forming the Montis Sastre Arquitectura studio in his hometown, after having collaborated in several national (Barcelona) and international (Belgium) studios.

Much of his professional work is based on the development of competitions and public architecture, having won various awards and recognitions, including the First Prize in the competition for the construction of a nursing home in Pórtol (Mallorca) or the First Prize for the construction of the first teaching building for scientific swimming pools in Europe, in addition to other awards and mentions in various competitions.

He has also won the 2017-2018-2019 Mallorca Architecture Awards for the refurbishment of the Farinera de Can Suau, Llubí.

Passionate about Mediterranean architecture, both popular and contemporary, he considers it as a basic reference when conceptualizing his architecture.
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Published on: May 28, 2021
Cite: "A forgotten urban corner. Farinera Can Suau by Tomas Montis Sastre" METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/a-forgotten-urban-corner-farinera-can-suau-tomas-montis-sastre> ISSN 1139-6415
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